Laguna mayor eyes expanded health, free burial services
Magdalena plans a larger rural health facility and free funeral assistance starting 1 November
HEALTHCARE EXPANSION. Magdalena Mayor Dario Lapada Jr. discusses plans to improve healthcare facilities and introduce free funeral assistance during a public service event in Magdalena, Laguna, on 26 October 2026. The municipality plans to construct a larger Rural Health Unit and begin offering funeral assistance on 1 November.
MAGDALENA, Laguna — Mayor Dario Lapada Jr. has unveiled plans to expand the town’s healthcare facilities and introduce free funeral services to ease the financial burden on residents.
Lapada said the municipal government plans to replace the existing Rural Health Unit (RHU) with a larger, two- to three-story building to accommodate more patients and improve medical services.
The proposed expansion follows the extension of the RHU’s operating hours, with the facility reportedly attending to 40 to 50 patients on some evenings.
The mayor said the improvements would allow residents to receive medical attention closer to home, reducing the need to travel to hospitals outside the municipality.
The local government also plans to acquire additional medical equipment and upgrade existing facilities to strengthen healthcare delivery.
Meanwhile, Lapada announced that a free funeral assistance program is scheduled to begin on 1 November, providing eligible families with coffins, embalming, retrieval and transportation of remains, and delivery to burial sites.
He estimated the value of the proposed funeral package at up to P150,000 per family, subject to program guidelines.
Lapada said the initiative aims to spare grieving families, particularly those with limited financial resources, from additional expenses during bereavement.
Aside from healthcare and funeral assistance, the municipality has completed a multipurpose building and is planning improvements to municipal offices.
The mayor said the projects reflect his administration’s commitment to making essential public services more accessible and providing lasting benefits to Magdalena residents.